System and Method for Forming a Video Stream Containing GIS Data in Real-Time

ABSTRACT

Image capture systems and methods may include one or more video capture devices capable of capturing one or more video frames. The video frames may include geographic position data and orientation data associated therewith, and may be stored on one or more non-transient computer readable medium. The computer system may marshal each video frame to one or more processors from a bank of processors for geo-referencing and overlaying of geographic information system (GIS) data on the video frames in real time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/495,775, filed on Jun. 10, 2011, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

As background, in the remote sensing/aerial imaging industry, imagerymay be used to capture views of a geographic area. The imagery may beused to measure objects and structures within images, as well as, to beable to determine geographic locations of points within images.

Geographic information about objects within an image may be associatedwith that image. Such images are generally referred to as“geo-referenced images”. Geo-referenced images may include two basiccategories: captured imagery (images as captured by the camera or sensoremployed), and projected imagery (images processed and converted toconfirm to a mathematical projection).

Geo-referenced aerial images may be produced using hardware and/orsoftware systems that may geo-reference airborne sensor data. Forexample, methods and apparatus for mapping and measuring land aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,356, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. In addition, a system produced by ApplanixCorporation of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada and sold under thetrademark “POS AV” includes a hardware and software system for directlygeo-referencing sensor data. This system may be mounted on a movingplatform, such as an airplane, and directed towards the ground.

Imagery may begin as captured imagery. The captured imagery may needfurther processing to create projected imagery that is geo-referenced.The conventional method for processing captured imagery into projectedimagery is ortho-rectification. Ortho-rectification aligns an image toan orthogonal or rectilinear grid (i.e., composed of rectangles).Captured imagery used to create an ortho-rectified image may typicallyinclude a nadir image—that is, an image captured with the camerapointing straight down.

Direct geo-referencing is the direct measurement of sensor position andorientation (e.g., exterior orientation parameters), without the needfor additional ground information over the project area. Theseparameters may include data from an airborne sensor that may begeo-referenced to the Earth and/or local mapping frame. Examples ofairborne sensors may include: aerial cameras (digital or film-based),multi-spectral or hyper-spectral scanners, SAR, or LIDAR.

Geographical location data and/or geospatial data may be stored,organized, and/or analyzed in a Geographical Information System(hereinafter “GIS” or “GISs”). In aerial mapping, captured aerial imagesmay be warped to fit a pre-defined mapping grid (e.g., U.S. State Plane,1983 North American Datum, in U.S. Survey Feet). When an image frame isdisplayed, geographical bounds of that image frame may be used toretrieve GIS data in that area. Each geographic point location may bethen translated from geographic coordinates (e.g., latitude/longitude,X/Y coordinates) to image frame coordinates (e.g., pixel row/column)using mapping information surrounding the image frame. For traditionalnadir imagery, translation from geographic coordinates to imagecoordinates may be fairly straight forward as the image may be warped tofit a mapping grid (e.g., using an ortho-rectification process). Foroblique imagery, however, such translation may be more complex, andcomputation-intensive as some three dimensional features may becomedistorted during image processing.

Multiple captured images may also be combined into one or more largercomposite images. The larger composite images may cover largergeographic areas. For example, the composite image may be anortho-mosaic image created from a series of overlapping or adjacentcaptured nadir images. The overlapping or adjacent images may bemathematically combined into a single ortho-rectified processedcomposite image.

Generally, in creating an ortho-mosaic image a rectilinear grid may becreated. For example, the rectilinear grid may include an ortho-mosaicimage, wherein every grid pixel covers the same amount of area on theground. The location of each grid pixel may be determined from themathematical definition of the grid. Generally, this means the grid mayinclude a starting or origin location (e.g., X and Y location), and agrid/pixel size (e.g., X and Y grid/pixel size). As such, the locationof any pixel may be determined by:

X _(Origin) X _(Size) ×X _(Column Pixel) =X _(Pixel)  (EQ. 1)

Y _(Origin) Y _(Size) ×X _(Row Pixel) =Y _(Pixel)  (EQ. 2)

The available nadir images may be evaluated to determine if the imagescover the same point on the ground as the grid pixel being filled. Ifso, a mathematical formula may be used to determine where that point onthe ground projects up onto the camera's pixel image map, and thatresulting pixel value may be then transferred to the grid pixel.

While the above methodology may be applied to individual video frames,the ability to geo-reference and overlay GIS data in real-time at fullmotion video frame rates has not been achieved by currently availablesystems for several reasons. For example, the ortho-rectificationprocedure may be highly computation-intensive (e.g., elevation data).Even further, the computational demands increase exponentially as theframe rate increases. For the frame rate required for full motion video(e.g., approximately twelve to thirty frames per second), thecomputational requirements make a real-time system impractical.

Current art, due to its computational limitations, may store a singlegeographic position for each frame of a video. As such, the video may befound in a GIS data search, however, there may be limitations forgeographical location determinations for each pixel in the videoframe(s). Additionally, such limits may not include measurement ofdistances between objects in the video frame(s) and/or overlay of GISdata over a series of video frame(s) at full motion video rates inreal-time.

Existing systems overlaying information onto full motion video streamsin real-time may operate by calibrating to specific targets. Forexample, a fan of the National Football League may be familiar withoverlay graphics on the line of scrimmage, the first down marker, andthe like. Such systems work, not through geo-referencing of the imagery,but by calibrating the cameras to the field in that specific footballstadium, and including manual information input for the computers tothen overlay on the video stream via chroma-key methodology. If thecameras are pointed anywhere but that particular football field forwhich they are calibrated, the overlays may not be at the correctlocation because the images are not georeferenced.

A recent image processing technique, introduced by PictometryInternational Corp., warps a grid to an image instead of warping theimage to fit the grid. This is especially interesting for oblique imageprocessing, as oblique images (i.e., non-nadir images) may typicallyintroduce gross three dimensional object distortions when warped to fita mapping grid. Further, the development of a tessellated ground planeincludes a means to define the surface of the Earth under an obliqueimage. The systems and methods for determining tessellated ground planesare further described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,424,133, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. By capturing all ofthe interior and exterior parameters surrounding the image, Pictometrymay be able to determine locations, derive measurements, and/or overlayGIS data all with a degree of accuracy previously unachieved for obliqueimagery.

Another recent approach by Pictometry International Corporation includesthe systems and methods for single ray projection also described in U.S.Pat. No. 7,424,133. These methods, while more accurate thanortho-rectification, may be too slow for real-time processing at fullmotion video frame rates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary video frame geo-referencingsystem constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example of a video framegeo-referencing system constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of yet another example of a video framegeo-referencing system constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another example of a video framegeo-referencing system constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary video frame geo-referencingsystem constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of exemplary multi-processor architectureof a system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary logic flow of a systemconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of exemplary marshaling steps of a systemconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another embodiment of exemplary marshalingsteps of a system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 10-18 are exemplary composite video frames 1-9 from a series ofvideo frames 1-N according to the instant disclosure.

FIG. 19 is another exemplary composite video frame according to theinstant disclosure showing overlaid GIS data of residential homefoundations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction, experiments, exemplary data, and/or thearrangement of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments or being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, itis to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed hereinis for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the sameor similar elements.

As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, includes”,“including”, “has”, “having”, or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements, but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus.

As used in the instant disclosure, the terms “provide”, “providing”, andvariations thereof comprise displaying or providing for display awebpage to one or more users interfacing with a computer and/or computernetwork(s) and/or allowing the one or more user(s) to participate, suchas by interacting with one or more mechanisms on a webpage by sendingand/or receiving signals (e.g., analog, digital, optical, and/or thelike) via a computer network interface (e.g., Ethernet port, TCP/IPpost, optical port, cable modem, and/or the like). A user may beprovided with a web page in a web browser, or in a software application,for example.

Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to aninclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or Bis satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and Bis false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (orpresent), and both A and B is true (or present).

In addition, use of terms “a” and “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. Thisdescription should be read to include one or more and the singular alsoincludes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Further, use of the term “plurality” is employed to convey “more thanone” unless expressly stated to the contrary.

As used herein, reference to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “oneexample”, or “an example” means that a particular element, feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentmay be included in at least one embodiment. The appearance of the phrase“in one embodiment” or “one example” in various places within theinstant specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment or example.

Circuitry, as used herein, may be analog and/or digital, components, orone or more suitably programmed microprocessors and associated hardwareand/or software, or hardwired logic. Also, “components” may perform oneor more functions. The term “component”, may include hardware, such as aprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), or a combination of hardware andsoftware. Software may include one or more computer executableinstructions that when executed by one or more components may cause thecomponent to perform a specified function. It should be understood thatthe algorithms described herein may be stored on one or morenon-transient memory. Exemplary non-transient memory may include randomaccess memory, read only memory, flash memory, and/or the like. Suchnon-transient memory may be electrically based, optically based, and/orthe like.

As used herein, the terms “real-time”, “calculating in real-time”,“storing in real-time”, and similar terms containing “real-time” shallbe interpreted to mean completing the process/operation within a certainpredetermined time period or number of sequences of completedinstructions relating to a certain event and system response. Such timeperiod may vary, but will generally be relatively short. In contrast,the term “non-real-time” may be used to indicate periods of time otherthan real-time.

As used herein, the terms “full motion video” of “FMV” shall beinterpreted to mean digital or analog video comprising a series of videoframes which are captured and/or displayed. For example, frame rates maybe between approximately seven frames per second (fps) to about thirtyfps. In some embodiments, the frame rate may be about twenty-four framesper second (fps). It is to be understood that such frame rates areexemplary only, and should not be construed as limiting in any way. Itis to be understood that full motion video may be captured and/ordisplayed at lower or higher frame rates depending on specific systemapplications. A system according to the inventive concept disclosedherein may be capable of operating at higher or lower frame rates aswill be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art presented withthe instant disclosure.

As used herein, the term “GIS data”, “geographic information systemdata”, “geographical information system data”, or “geospatialinformation system data” shall be interpreted to mean data that may becaptured, stored, analyzed, processed, transmitted, and/or otherwiseassociated with geographical location data. Such GIS data may, forexample, be indicative of a geographical location of an object on theEarth's surface, may relate such location to sea level, and/or any otherobject by using conventional coordinates or monitoring systems (e.g.,latitude/longitude, GPS, XYZ coordinates, and/or the like). For example,such GIS data may include, but is not limited to, one or more layerscomprising country information, county information, city information,street information, traffic information, quadrant information, locationof easements, buildings, pipelines, elevated transmission lines,latitude and longitude, GPS coordinates, elevation relative to sealevel, weather information, topographical information, soil information,advertising information, election information, routing information,membership information, and/or other similar information. Such GIS datamay be organized, provided, and/or stored as a GIS database or acollection of GIS databases. Databases may include one or more fieldsfor position of the GIS data (e.g., X/Y coordinates, latitude/longitude,and the like), and/or the GIS data itself. In some embodiments, GIS datamay be stored in Extensible Markup Language (XML) based KML files (afile format used to display geographic data in a web browser) with onefile for each piece of GIS data.

As used herein the term “internal geometry calibration data” may beinterpreted to mean data indicative of positions and/or orientations ofeach pixel of the sensor field of a video frame capture device 102 a-n.Additionally, internal geometry calibration data may include internalgeometry of the sensor field of the video frame capture device 102 a-n.Such internal geometry calibration data may be calibrated to compensatefor any error inherent in and/or due to a video frame capture device 102a-n, (e.g., error due to calibrated focal length, sensor size, radialdistortion, principal point offset, alignment, and/or the like).

As used herein, the term “marshaling” may be interpreted to meantransforming the memory representation of an object to a data formatsuitable for analysis by one or more processors. Additionally,“marshaling” may include storing, transmitting, distributing, providing,and/or otherwise communicating the memory representation of an object toone or more processors of a bank of processors. The memoryrepresentation of an object may be one or more video frames of a seriesof video frames. The opposite process may be referred to asde-marshaling or un-marshaling herein.

As used herein, the designation “a-n”, “a-d”, “a-e”, “1-n”, “1-N”,“1-m”, and other similar designations, whether capitalized orlower-case, are used solely as a convenient shorthand expressionssignifying two or more of the elements such designations are appendedto. A designation “a-d” may be understood to mean a plurality of theelement it is appended to, and is not necessarily limiting of thequantity of four.

As it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, whilethe examples of a multi-core processor shown herein may include eightcores, any number of cores may be included in a multi-core processorused with the inventive concept disclosed herein. For example, amulti-core processor may include a bank of processors comprising two,three, four, five, six, seven, ten, one hundred, or a plurality ofcores, which may comprise processors, FPGAs, and combinations thereof.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, the videoframe geo-referencing system 100 may include one or more video framecapture devices 102 mounted in any pattern. For example, in FIGS. 1 and3, the video frame geo-referencing system 100 includes four video framecapture devices 102 a-d mounted in a sweep pattern. In the examplesdepicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, the video frame geo-referencing system 100includes five video frame capture devices 102 a-e mounted in a 360°pattern (e.g., video frame capture devices 102 a-e pointing fore, aft,port, starboard and straight down). It is to be understood, however,that any number of video frame capture devices 102 mounted in anypattern may be used.

The geo-referencing system 100 and/or portions of the geo-referencingsystem 100 (e.g., the video frame capture devices 102) may be stationaryand/or mounted to a moving platform 104. For example, in someembodiments, the video frame geo-referencing system 100 may be mountedto a moving platform 104 as depicted in FIGS. 1-4. The moving platform104 may be any type of device and/or system capable of movement throughspace in a predetermined and/or random manner. For example, in FIGS. 1and 2, the moving platform 104 is shown as an airplane and in FIGS. 3and 4, the moving platform 104 is shown as an automobile. It should beunderstood, however, that the moving platform 104 may be implemented inany device and/or system capable of movement through space in apredetermined and/or random manner. For example, the moving platform 104may be implemented as, but is not limited to, one or more manned orunmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, trains, automobiles such as vans,ships, boats, four wheelers, snowmobiles, motorcycles, tractors, hot airballoons, helium balloons, orbital vehicles, satellites, submarines,and/or the like. Alternatively, one or more portions of thegeo-referencing system 100 may be stationary. For example, one or morevideo frame capture devices 102 may be mounted on a moving platform 104while one or more video frame capture devices 102 are mounted on astationary platform in a fixed location.

In some embodiments, the video frame capture devices 102 may becalibrated such that the exact positions and orientations of each of thevideo frame capture devices 102 are known with respect to at least aportion of the stationary and/or moving platforms 104. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 2, the video frame capture devices 102 a-e may bemounted onto a common substrate 106. The position of each of the videoframe capture devices 102 a-e may be calibrated with respect to thecommon substrate 106. The common substrate 106, having the video framecapture devices 102 a-e mounted thereto, may be then mounted to themoving platform 104.

In some embodiments, the video frame capture devices 102 may be mountedinternally to the moving platform 104. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplaryembodiment wherein the video frame capture devices 102 a-d may bemounted internally to the moving platform 104. In some embodiments, themoving platform 104 may include one or more openings 109 for the videoframe capture devices 102 a-d to sense data through. Alternatively, oneor more of the video frame capture devices 102 may be mounted externallyto the moving platform 104. For example, in FIG. 2 the video framecapture devices 102 a-e are shown mounted to an under-wing pod 107external to the moving platform 104.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the video frame geo-referencingsystem 100. The video frame geo-referencing system 100 may include oneor more video frame capture devices 102 a-n, one or more eventmultiplexer systems 110, one or more monitoring systems 112, one or morecomputer systems 114, one or more output devices 116, and one or moreinput devices 118.

The video frame geo-referencing system 100 may be used for capturing,processing, and/or providing video imaging. Video imaging may include,but is not limited to, aerial video images, surface-based imaging (e.g.,terrestrial-based), water-based imaging, space-based imaging, and/or thelike. The video frames used with the instant inventive concept maycomprise oblique images, orthogonal images, nadir images, combinationsthereof, and/or the like. Such video frames may be captured, processed,and/or provided.

The video frame capture devices 102 a-n may be included, but are notlimited to, analog video cameras, digital video cameras, digitalcameras, digital single-lens reflex cameras, electronic image sensors,web cameras, combinations thereof, and/or the like. The video framecapture devices 102 a-n may be capable of capturing images with varyingresolutions. In some embodiments, the video frame capture devices 102a-n may be able to detect various wavelengths such as infrared, visiblelight, and ultraviolet light for example. Generally, each of the videoframe capture devices 102 a-n may be capable of sensing and/or capturingdata, such as a series of video frames 1-N. Such video frames mayinclude one or more pixels.

Each of the video frame capture devices 102 a-n may include one or moreevent channels 108 a-n. The event channel may be capable of distributingan event signal indicating the approximate and/or exact time of captureof a video frame by the video frame capture device 102 a-n. The eventchannel 108 a-n may be implemented as any device that transmits a signalcoincident with the approximate and/or exact time of capture of a videoframe by the video frame capture devices 102 a-n. For example, the eventchannel 108 a-n may include, but is not limited to, devices such asflash outputs, synchronization outputs, intervalometers, and/or thelike.

The video frame capture devices 102 a-n may capture, store, and/orprovide one or more series of video frames 1-N having one or more pixelsin an analog manner, digital manner, and/or on film. In someembodiments, the video frame capture devices 102 a-n may be capable ofcapturing one or more series of video frames 1-N at full motion videoframe rates. Video frame capture devices 102 a-n may capture one or moreseries of video frames 1-N at rates lower than FMV and/or ratesexceeding FMV rates. The video frame capture devices 102 a-n may bereferred to as “camera” or “cameras” herein for the sake of brevity.

The event multiplexer system 110 may include one or more video framecapture inputs 120 a-n and one or more output ports 122 a-n. Each videoframe capture input 120 a-n may receive signals from the event channel108 a-n of one or more of the video frame capture devices 102 a-n. Theevent multiplexer system 110 may output one or more event signalsindicative of the approximate time each video frame 1-N was captured.Such event signals may be transmitted by the video frame capture devices102 a-n. Additionally, an identification (CID) of each video framecapture devices 102 a-n may be transmitted via input 120 a-n.

The monitoring system 112 may record data indicative of the capturing ofvideo frames 1-n. For example, the monitoring system 112 may recordposition data as a function of time, time data, orientation data, and/orany information related to the moving platform 104. In some embodiments,the monitoring system 112 may automatically and/or continuously readand/or record the data. It should be understood, however, that themonitoring system 112 may be capable of reading and/or recording data inother manners. For example, the monitoring system 112 may be capable ofreading and/or recording data on a periodic basis, upon receipt of asignal actuating the monitoring system 112, and/or the like. Forexample, the event signals produced by the event multiplexer system 110may be transmitted to the monitoring system 112 enabling the monitoringsystem 112 to read and/or record the data indicative of position as afunction of time related to the moving platform 104.

The monitoring system 112 may include one or more processors. Forexample, the monitoring system 112 may include one or more processesimplemented as one or more CPU, one or more microprocessor, one or moreFPGA, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, combinationsthereof, and/or the like. The monitoring system 112 may receive dataindicative of the timing and location of the moving platform 104 duringthe capture of one or more video frames 1-n. For example, the monitoringsystem 112 may receive data indicative of the timing and location duringcapture from an inertial measurement unit 124. The monitoring system 112may store data internally and/or output data to the computer system 114.The monitoring system 112 may output data in any other suitable manner,such as storing such data on an external magnetic, optical storagesystem, and/or the like.

Position related to the moving platform 104 may include any suitablecoordinate system (e.g., XYZ coordinate system). In some embodiments,the monitoring system 112 may include a satellite receiver 126. Thereceiver 126 may receive monitoring and/or timing signals from thesatellite constellation 128. For example, the receiver 126 may receivemonitoring and/or timing signals using protocols including, but notlimited to, global monitoring satellite (GPS), loran, and/or the like.It should be noted other types of position determining systems may beused including, but not limited to, cell phone triangulation, wirelessapplication protocol, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the receiver126 may communicate with the satellite constellation 128 via a GPSwireless communication channel 130.

The monitoring system 112 may receive data from the inertial measurementunit 124. Data from the inertial measurement unit 124 may include dataassociated to the moving platform 104 (e.g., orientation of the movingplatform 104). In some embodiments, the inertial measurement unit 124may include one or more sensors. Sensors may include, but are notlimited to, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or the like. In someembodiments, sensors may be used to transmit data regarding roll, pitchand/or yaw related to the moving platform 104. The inertial measurementunit 124 may be capable of communicating with the computer system 114via path 132.

It should be understood that the position and/or orientation informationmay not necessarily be related to position and/or orientation of themoving platform 104. For example, the position and orientation for eachvideo frame capture device 102 a-n may be determined in contrast todetermination of position and/or orientation of the moving platform 104.In some embodiments, the position and orientation for each video framecapture device 102 a-n may be determined by the monitoring system 112based upon position and orientation relative to the moving platform 104.

The computer system 114 may receive and record the approximate timewherein each video frame is captured by a video frame capture device 102a-n in relation to the position and orientation of the moving platform104. For example, approximate time may be determined using a ‘shutteropen’ output of each video frame capture device 102 a-n, an eventtrigger input on the inertial measurement unit 124, event multiplexer110, monitoring system 112, the computer system 114, and/or the like. Insome embodiments, the approximate time may be determined using eventtrigger inputs on the monitoring system 112. However, in this example,if more video frame capture devices 102 a-n are employed than availableevent trigger inputs on the monitoring system 112, the event multiplexersystem 110 may also be used in conjunction to record approximate time.The event multiplexer system 110 may include a number of video framecapture inputs 120 a-n equal to or larger than the number of video framecapture devices 102 a-n. As such, the event multiplexer system 110 maybe used to record approximate time of video frames 1-N captured inrelation to the position and orientation of the moving platform 104.Such data may be transmitted to the computer system 114.

The computer system 114 may include one or more processors 136 capableof executing processor executable code, and one or more raw storage 138capable of storing processor executable code.

The processor 136 may be capable of communicating with the one or morememory 138 via path 140. Additionally, the processor 136 may be capableof communicating with the one or more video frame capture devices 102a-n via paths 134 a-n. The processor 136 may be implemented as anyprocessor known in the art such as a microprocessor, a CPU, a FPGA, andcombinations thereof. For example, the processor 136 may be implementedas a multi-core processor having a bank of processors as will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 6 below.

The raw storage 138 may be implemented as any conventional non-transientmemory such as a hard drive, a flash memory, a random access memory, asolid state drive, and combinations thereof, for example. The rawstorage 138 may be local and/or remote with respect to the processor136. For example, the raw storage 138 may be accessible by the processor136 via path 140, wherein path 140 may be implemented as a data buscapable of transferring data between the raw storage 138 and theprocessor 136. The path 140 may be a hardwire connection and/or anetwork connection.

The processor 136 may store in the raw storage 138 informationindicative of the series of video frames 1-N captured by video framecapture devices 102 a-n via path 140. The processor 136 may also storeinformation including, but not limited to, the identification,geographical position, orientation, internal geometry calibration dataof each of the particular video frame capture devices 102 a-n, and/orthe like.

The computer system 114 may receive, store and/or provide informationindicative of the approximate and/or exact time each video frame 1-N wastaken by the video frame capture devices 102 a-n, and/or identificationof the video frame capture devices 102 a-n including the frames 1-N. Thecomputer system 114 may also optionally receive, store and/or providethe video frames 1-N (e.g., from the memory 138) captured by the videoframe capture devices 102 a-n.

The position related to the moving platform 104 may be transmitted tothe computer system 114 by the monitoring system 112 via path 135. Theposition may be transmitted in any suitable coordinate system including,but not limited to, an X, Y, Z coordinate system, a WGSI984latitude/longitude coordinate system, and/or the like.

The computer system 114 may be able to communicate with a GIS database144 via paths 146 and 148. In some embodiments, paths 146 and 148 may bea similar physical path. Paths 146 and 148 may be constructed similarlyto paths 134 a-n and 140.

The GIS database 144 may be any conventional GIS database 144 thatincludes GIS data. Additionally, the GIS database 144 may include GISdata containing one layer or multiple layers. In some embodiments, thecomputer system 114 may communicate with the GIS database 144 inreal-time. The GIS database 144 may be implemented at the same locationas the computer system 114, i.e. mounted on the moving platform 104.Alternatively, the GIS database 144 may be implemented at a locationremote from the location of computer system 114. In some embodiments,the remotely located GIS database 144 may be located in one or morephysical locations. For example, the GIS database 144 may communicatewith the computer system 114 over a network including, but not limitedto, the internet, satellite wireless channels, cellular networks,combinations thereof, and/or the like.

The video frame geo-referencing system 100 may optionally include one ormore output devices 116 and one or more input devices 118. The outputdevice 116 may communicate with the computer system 114 via path 145.The input device 118 may communicate with the computer system 114 viapath 147. It is to be understood that paths 145 and 147 may be wiredand/or non-wired communication channels including, but not limited to,cables, wires, Ethernet, USB ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Radio Frequency(RF) communication channels, local area networks, wireless Internet,cellular network communication channels, satellite communicationchannels, infrared ports, combinations thereof and/or the like.

The output device 116 may transmit information from the computer system114 to a user or another computer system, such that the information maybe perceived by the user or other computer system. For example, theoutput device 116 may include, but is not limited to, implementationssuch as a computer monitor, a speaker, a printer, a web server, awebsite, a video player, a “smart” video player, a cell phone, a tablet,a printer, a projector, a laptop monitor, combinations thereof, and/orthe like. Information transmitted by the output device 116 may include,but is not limited to, one or more video frames, one or more series ofvideo frames (e.g., outputted at FMV rates), and/or the like. Suchinformation may be provided by the computer system 114 to the outputdevice 116 in real-time.

The input device 118 may transmit data to the computer system 114. Inputdevices 118 may include, but are not limited to, implementations astouchscreens, keyboards, mouse, cell phones, tablets, PDAs, modems,websites, servers, Ethernet cables, microphones, network adapters,combinations thereof, and/or the like, for example. The input devices118 may be located in the same physical location as the computer system114, may be remotely located, and/or partially or completelynetwork-based. It is to be understood that the output device 116 and theinput device 118 may be integrated in a single device such as atouchscreen tablet, a cellular phone, a website, a server, a laptop, andcombinations thereof, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 6, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of theprocessor 136 used in the computer system 114 according to the presentdisclosure. The processor 136 may include a master central processingunit (MCPU) 150, and one or more slave processors 152 a-n. It is to beunderstood that while eight processors 152 a-n are shown in FIG. 6, anynumber of processors may be used with the inventive concept disclosedherein. For example, in some embodiments, a single slave processor 152may be used.

The MCPU 150 may be implemented as any conventional processor capable ofexecuting processor executable code such as a microprocessor, a CPU, aFPGA, or combinations thereof. The MCPU 150 is capable of communicatingwith the one or more slave processors 152 a-n via paths 154 a-n, whichmay be implemented as any conventional databus capable of transferringdata between the MCPU 150 and the slave processors 152 a-n. The MCPU 150and the slave processors 152 a-n may be located in the same physicallocation, may be remotely located, and/or partially or completelynetwork-based. Additionally, each slave processor 152 a-n may be locatedin the same physical location as other slave processors, may be remotelylocated, and/or partially or completely network-based.

The one or more slave processors 152 a-n may be referred to herein afteras a “bank of processors.” The slave processors 152 a-n may beimplemented similarly to the MCPU 150. The function of the MCPU 150 andthe slave processors 152 a-n will be described below.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a methodfor operating the video frame geo-referencing system 100 according tothe instant disclosure. In a step 200, the moving platform 104 may beactuated and the video frame geo-referencing system 100 may begin tocapture one or more series of video frames 1-N. For example, the videoframe geo-referencing system 100 may begin to capture one or more seriesof video frames 1-N at FMV rates with the video frame capture devices102 a-n. In some embodiments, each series of video frames 1-N may becaptured with one of the video frame capture devices 102 a-n.Additionally, information regarding the approximate and/or exact timeeach video frame 1-N may be captured and transmitted to the computersystem 114. For example, if the video frame geo-referencing system 100includes four video frame capture devices 102 a-d, then four series ofvideo frames 1-4 may be captured simultaneously. In some embodiments,the video frame capture devices 102 a-n may be independently controlledby software running on the computer system 114.

The series of video frames 1-N may be transmitted to the computer system114, and may be stored in the raw storage 138. The monitoring system 112may collect position and orientation data of the moving platform 104while the series of video frames 1-N are captured. The position andorientation data may be transmitted to the computer system 114. Thecomputer system 114 may store the position and orientation data in thememory 138. Alternatively, the series of video frames 1-N and/orposition and orientation data may be stored on any non-transient memoryaccessible by the computer system 114. For example, the series of videoframes 1-N and/or position and orientation data may be stored as a localmemory of the video frame capture devices 102 a-n, local memory of themonitoring system 112, and/or the like. In some embodiments, thelocation and timing of the capturing of the series of video frames 1-Nmay be pre-determined.

In a step 202, the computer system 114 may transmit the collected seriesof video frames 1-N, timing data for each video frame 1-N, position andorientation data of the moving platform 104, and/or calibration data foreach video frame capture device 102 a-n to the processor 136 forassociation of such data with video frames 1-N.

In a step 204, the processor 136 may utilize the geographic positiondata, the orientation data, and/or the interior calibration data, todetermine geo-referencing information for each of the video frames 1-N.Geo-referencing may determine the location of each pixel from therows/columns of pixels comprising the video frames 1-N. In someembodiments, the processor 136 may marshal one or more video frame toone or more of the slave processors 152 a-n as will be described withreference to FIGS. 8-9 below.

In a step 206, the processor 136 may overlay, embed, or otherwiseassociate the geo-referencing information determined in step 204 witheach video frame 1-N from the series of video frames 1-N.

In a step 208, points indicative of the boundary of the video frames 1-nmay be determined. For example, the geographic coordinates of the fourcorners of the video frames 1-N may be determined by the processor 136.In some embodiments, the geographic coordinates of the four corners ofthe video frames 1-N may be determined using the geo-referencinginformation determined in step 206.

In a step 210, the processor 136 uses the geographic coordinates of thepoints (e.g., four corners of the video frames 1-N) to find thegeographic bounds of the video frames 1-N. In a step 212, the geographicbounds of each video frame 1-N (e.g., one or more pixels within thevideo frame) may be used to retrieve one or more layers of GIS data fromthe GIS database 144 for each video frame 1-N.

In a step 214, the geo-referencing information associated with eachvideo frame 1-N may be used to determine the position of the GIS data onthe particular video frame 1-N. In some embodiments, determine of theposition of the GIS data may include marshaling one or more video frames1-N to one or more of the slave processors 152 a-n of the bank ofprocessors 152 a-n as will be described with reference to FIGS. 8-9.

In some embodiments, each geographic point location from the GIS datamay be translated from geographic coordinates (e.g., latitude/longitudeor X/Y) to video frame coordinates (e.g., pixel row/column) using thegeo-referencing information associated with the video frame.

In some embodiments, the geo-referencing information associated with asingle video frame may be used to determine position of another videoframe. For example, the geo-referencing information associated with asingle video frame 1 may be used to determine the position of GIS datafor video frame 1. Then for video frame 2, the precise position of thecenter (or any other corresponding part) of video frame 2 may bedetermined. The GIS data position determined for video frame 1 may thenbe shifted by an offset between the determined center positions of videoframe 1 to video frame 2. The offset may be used to determine theposition of GIS data for video frame 2. This process may be repeated forone or more additional video frames 3-N.

In another example, the processor 136 may determine GIS data positionfor a single video frame and shift positions of a set of frames based onthe single frame. For example, the processor 136 may determine GIS dataposition for video frame 1, and shift such positions according to theoffset of video frames 2-9. Then, the processor 136 may determine GISdata position for video frame 10, and shift such positions according tothe offset of video frames 11-19. The GIS data positions for theremaining video frames 20-N may be determined in a similar fashion.

In some embodiments, the processor 136 may calculate GIS data positionfor a single video frame and shift positions of tangential frames. Forexample, the processor 136 may determine GIS data position for videoframe 1, and shift such positions according to the offset of video frame2. Then, the processor 136 may determine GIS data position for videoframe 3, and shift such positions according to the offset of video frame4. The GIS data positions for the remaining video frames 5-N may bedetermined in a similar fashion.

As it will be readily understood by a person of ordinary skill in theart, the ratio of video frames 1-N for which the GIS data positions aredetermined to video frames 1-N for which the position is determined bythe offset shift may be varied depending on processor 136 capabilitiesand configuration, as well as quality and resolution of the video frames1-N and layers of GIS data overlaid on such video frames 1-N.

In a step 216, the GIS data may be overlaid onto video frames 1-N at thepositions calculated in step 214. Such video frames 1-N containingoverlaid GIS data will be referred to as composite video frames 1-M.Alternatively, GIS data may be associated with video frames 1-N ratherthan overlaying GIS data on video frames 1-N. For example, a “smart”player capable of overlaying the associated GIS data to an appropriatecomposite video frame 1-M may be used to overlay the GIS data over theseries of composite video frames 1-M at a later time. In someembodiments, the smart player may be capable of overlaying one or moreGIS data layers onto composite video frames 1-M in response to userpreferences.

One or more layers of GIS data may be overlaid onto composite videoframes 1-M. Additionally, one or more layers of GIS data may beassociated with the composite video frames 1-M. Overlaid GIS data and/orassociated GIS data may allow the output device 116 to output the one ormore overlaid layers of GIS data when outputting the composite videoframes 1-N. As such, a user may be able to selectively display the oneor more associated layers of GIS data onto the composite video frames1-M.

In a step 218, the composite video frames 1-M may be assembled into aFMV stream of composite video frames 1-M, stored into memory 138, and/orprovided in real-time. Alternatively, the composite video frames 1-M maybe stored in a removable memory device such as a CD, a DVD, a Blue-Ray,a flash drive, a hard drive, or solid state drive, for example. Thecomposite video frames 1-M may be stored separately from the videoframes 1-N, the composite video frames 1-M may replace the video frames1-N, or alternatively, the composite video frames 1-M may be stored overthe video frames 1-N. The composite video frames 1-M may be transmittedto the output device 116 in real-time, and may be transmitted to remoteoutput devices over a network such as the internet, a cellular network,or a satellite communication network, for example.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method for marshalingvideo frames to processors. Generally, video frames 1-N may be marshaledto the slave processors 152 a-n. For example, in a step 220 video frame1 may be marshaled to slave processor 152 a. In a step 222, video frame2 may be marshaled to slave processor 152 b. Similarly, video frame 3may be marshaled to slave processor 152 c in a step 224. The remainingvideo frames 4-N in the series of video frames 1-N may be marshaled toslave processors 152 a-n in a similar fashion until all video framesfrom the series 1-N are marshaled to one or more slave processors 152a-n. For example, if there are 15 video frames to be marshaled, thenvideo frames 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 may be marshaled to slave processor 152a; video frames 2, 5, 8, 11, and 14 may be marshaled to slave processor152 b; and video frames 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 may be marshaled to slaveprocessor 152 c in a round-robin fashion.

FIG. 9 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a method formarshaling video frames to processors. Generally, each video frame ismarshaled to a separate processor. For example, in a step 226, the MCPU150 may marshal video frames 1-5 to slave processors 152 a-e, with videoframe 1 being marshaled to slave processor 152 a, video frame 2 beingmarshaled to slave processor 152 b, video frame 3 being marshaled toslave processor 152 c, video frame 4 being marshaled to slave processor152 d, and video frame 5 being marshaled to slave processor 152 e. In astep 228, video frames 6-10 may be marshaled to slave processors 152 e-hin a similar fashion. Next, in a step 230, video frames 11-15 may bemarshaled to slave processors 152 i-m in a similar fashion.

It is to be understood that video frames 1-N may be marshaled to thebank of slave processors 152 a-n in other ways depending on the numberof video frames 1-N and slave processors 152 a-n, for example. It is toalso be understood that a combination of the methods shown in FIGS. 8and 9 may be used to marshal video frames 1-N to the slave processors152 a-n.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-18, shown therein are a series of compositevideo frames 1-M according to the instant disclosure. The compositevideo frame series 1-M may include a plurality of rows 1-x and aplurality of columns 1-y. The composite video frames 1-M may includeimage data 300 in the form of pixels with GIS data 302 replacing thepixels of the image data. The composite video frames 1-M may display oneor more layers of GIS data, such as for example dimensions of a portionof a composite video frame 1-M, coordinates of an object shown in acomposite video frame 1-M, and/or county and quadrant of a portion of acomposite video frame 1-M. As shown in FIGS. 10-18, the GIS data 302 ismoving in a single direction as different geographical areas arecaptured within the image data 300 of the composite video frames 1-M. Itis to be understood that other layers of GIS data may be overlaid on thecomposite video frames 1-M such as elevation, latitude and longitude,street names, business locations, country information, trafficinformation, weather information, and city information, for example, aswill be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art presentedwith the instant disclosure.

In operation, the video frame geo-referencing system may actuate themoving platform 104 to begin moving through space. In some embodiments,a user of the video frame geo-referencing system 100 may actuate themoving platform 104 to begin moving through space. One or more of thevideo frame capture devices 102 a-n may initiate capture of video frames1-N. In some embodiments, the video frames 1-N may be representative ofa pre-determined geographic area. The video frame geo-referencing system100 may use data from the positional system and internal calibrationdata to geo-reference the series of video frames 1-N. The geographicalboundary of the video frames 1-N may be determined. The video framegeo-referencing system 100 may use the determined geographical boundaryof the series of video frames 1-N to obtain one or more layers of GISdata from the GIS database 144. In some embodiments, the one or morelayers of GIS data to be obtained may be specified by the user via theinput device 118. The video frame geo-referencing system overlays one ormore layers of GIS data over one or more frames of the series of videoframes 1-N to create a series of composite video frames 1-M.

In some embodiments, the user may select one or more layers of GIS datato be overlaid onto the series of video frames 1-N in order to createthe series of composite video frames 1-M. The user may optionally causethe video frame geo-referencing system 100 to store the series ofcomposite frames 1-M separately from the series of video frames 1-N, orto replace the series of video frames 1-N with a corresponding series ofcomposite video frames 1-M.

The video frame geo-referencing system 100 may provide one or morecomposite video frame, or series of composite video frames 1-M to one ormore output devices 116. For example, the series of composite videoframes 1-M may be in the form of full motion video.

Optionally, a series of composite video frames 1-M and video frames 1-Ncan be interleaved and provided to the one or more output device 116. Inthis instance, the video frame geo-referencing system 100 may not haveto geo-reference and overlay GIS data onto as many video frames.However, flicker may be introduced in this embodiment.

In some embodiments, the user may optionally select one or moreadditional layers of GIS data to be displayed on the composite videoframes 1-M via the input device 118. Additionally, the user may selectone or more layers of GIS data to be removed from the displayedcomposite video frames 1-M.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that variousmodifications and changes may be made in the preferred and alternativeembodiments of the present invention without departing from its truespirit.

1. A method, comprising the steps of: capturing one or more video framesof a geographic area with one or more video capture devices; storing thevideo frames on one or more non-transient computer readable mediumaccessible by a computer system; wherein geographic position data andorientation data is associated with each video frame; marshaling, by thecomputer system, the video frames to one or more processors from a bankof processors of the computer system, wherein the bank of processorsgeo-references and determines overlay position of geographic informationsystem (GIS) data on the video frames in real time.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more video frames includes one or moreseries of video frames.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one ormore video frames is captured at a full-motion video frame rate.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein one or more of the video capture devices aresecured to a moving platform.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein one ormore of the video capture devices are mounted on a stationary platform.6. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the video frames furtherincludes storing interior geometry calibration data for the one or morecameras.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein geo-referencing the videoframes includes utilizing one or more of the geographic position data,the orientation data, and the interior geometry calibration data.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the steps of overlaying the GISdata on the video frames utilizing the overlay position of the GIS datato form composite video frames having overlaid GIS data, and storing thecomposite video frames in real-time.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising the steps of assembling the video frames into a full motionvideo series and enabling the display of the full motion video series inreal-time.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the composite video framesare stored over the video frames.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein thecomposite video frames are stored separately from the video frames. 12.The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of overlaying theGIS data on the video frames utilizing the overlay position of the GISdata to form composite video frames having overlaid GIS data anddisplaying one or more composite video frames in non-real-time and oneor more composite video frames in real-time.
 13. The method of claim 1,further comprising the steps of overlaying the GIS data on the videoframes utilizing the overlay position of the GIS data to form compositevideo frames having overlaid GIS data and providing the composite videoframes via a website in real-time.
 14. The method of claim 1, whereinthe overlay position includes one or more video frame pixel row and oneor more video frame pixel column.
 15. A method, comprising the steps of:capturing a series of video frames of a geographic area with one or morecameras from a moving platform and storing the video frames in on one ormore non-transitory computer readable medium accessible by a computersystem while also recording geographic position data and orientationdata of the one or more camera on the one or more non-transitorycomputer readable medium, and with interior geometry calibration datafor the one or more cameras being stored on the one or morenon-transitory computer readable medium; performing in real-time thefollowing steps by the computer system for the video frames: associatingthe geographic position data and orientation data with the video frames;generating geo-referencing data for one or more video frames utilizingthe geographic position data, the orientation data and the interiorgeometry calibration data; accessing geographic information system (GIS)data using the geo-referencing data; and determining an overlay positionof the GIS data relative to the one or more video frames for whichgeo-referencing data is generated in real-time.
 16. The method of claim15, further comprising the steps of overlaying the GIS data on the videoframes utilizing the overlay position of the GIS data to form compositevideo frames having overlaid GIS data and storing the composite videoframes in real-time.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising thesteps of assembling the video frames into a full motion video series andenabling the display of the full motion video series in real-time. 18.The method of claim 16, wherein the composite video frames are storedover the video frames.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the compositevideo frames are stored separately from the video frames.
 20. The methodof claim 15, wherein the step of generating geo-referencing dataincludes marshalling video frames to multiple processors in apredetermined sequence.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein thepredetermined sequence is a round-robin sequence.
 22. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the step of generating geo-referencing data includesthe step of calculating an offset of a first video frame relative to asecond video frame, and using the offset to generate the geo-referencingdata for at least one of the first and second video frames.
 23. An imagecapture system comprising: one or more cameras adapted to be mounted toa moving platform, the one or more cameras adapted to capture a seriesof video frames of a geographic area; one or more position andorientation system adapted to record geographic position data andorientation data; a computer system having one or more processors andone or more non-transitory memory storing processor executable code andinterior geometry calibration data for the one or more cameras, andcommunicating with the one or more processor; wherein the processorexecutable code, when executed by the one or more processors causes theone or more processors to (1) receive a series of video frames from theone or more cameras, (2) store the video frames in the one or morenon-transitory memory, (3) record geographic position data andorientation data of the one or more camera on the one or morenon-transitory memory, (4) associate the geographic position data andorientation data with the video frames, (5) generate geo-referencingdata for each video frame utilizing the geographic position data, theorientation data, and the interior geometry calibration data; (6) accessGIS data from a GIS database using the geo-referencing data, and (7)determine an overlay position of the GIS data relative to the videoframes.
 24. A computer system comprising: one or more processors; andone or more non-transitory memory storing processor executable code andinterior geometry calibration data for one or more cameras, the one ormore non-transitory memory communicating with the one or more processor;wherein the processor executable code, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, causes the one or more processors to receive full motionvideo having at least one series of video frames from at least onecamera, geo-reference certain video frames within the series of videoframes; and overlay GIS data onto video frames to form a series ofcomposite video frames in real-time such that the GIS data can beperceived by an individual viewing a series of the composite videoframes provided at a full motion video rate.
 25. The computer system ofclaim 24, wherein the processor executable code, when executed by theone or more processors causes the one or more processors to recordgeographic position data and orientation data of the one or more cameraon the one or more non-transitory memory, associate the geographicposition data and orientation data with the video frames, generategeo-referencing data for each video frame utilizing the geographicposition data, the orientation data, and the interior geometrycalibration data; access GIS data from a GIS database using thegeo-referencing data, and determine an overlay position of the GIS datarelative to the video frames.